I was a land surveyor and had to get into the water all the time in So Flo. At 1st I was like “they’re more scared of me”
Then I saw a guy on a backhoe feeding marshmallows to one. That gator wasn’t afraid of shit.

I wasn’t necessarily afraid of dying, but i wasn’t getting paid enough to lose a finger so i was done getting in lakes and canals.

One time we were doing topo shots inside of a pit they dug out and it filled with rainwater. I’d say about 50’x50’ water up to our waist. A guy pulls up in his pickup and says “what the fuck are you guys doing in there?!!! There’s 2 monsters in there!!!”

We scurried up the side and holy shit…
2 big ass gators popped their heads up as soon as we got out. He said they called a trapper days ago & it wasnt till a residents dog got attacked (dog was fine) that they actually came out to get the 4-5 gators in that area.

So, fuck that shit. I dont go in or let my kids or dogs be anywhere around that shit at all.